K-beauty seems to be all the rave now.
Achieving a perfect glow is more than just a rising trend. Everyone’s need to get it is close to obsession.
And while a 10-step skincare routine might help, quality comes first in beauty.
Let’s save all the other steps for another time and focus on toners for now.
Toners are all about restoring skin pH balance and ensuring effective cleansing. It’s important if you have combination skin, acne-prone skin, or wear makeup all the time.
So before your serums, creams, and masks, a near perfect glow means proper cleansing first. This is the beauty of Korean toners, and we will share 10 of the best products out there!
The 10 Best Korean Toner for Combination Skin and Acne-Prone Skin
Missha Time Revolution Clear Toner
Our Pick
Missha is one of the most trusted Korean brands for skin care in Korea, and we consider their toner as the best Korean toner for combination skin on this list.
If you’re particularly sensitive to fragrance and irritants or naturally have sensitive skin, this is a great recommendation for you, too! And even if you have a rosacea issue, this is safe on your skin.
Your Skin Tone Solution
How this works is by the naturally fermented ingredients used to help even out your skin tone, reduce skin irritation, and optimize other hydrating ingredients found in the toner.
However, some users have reported breakouts after a first time-use. Others say their skin feels great on the first few days, but then breaks out afterwards.
This may be attributed to the fact it specifically works for a sensitive and oily skin combination. So if you have dry skin, this toner is not the best choice.
Brighten Up
Nevertheless, this toner will moisturize your skin. It does not leave the skin feeling too tight. Watch out for this in toners since a squeaky clean feeling indicates your skin is stripped of the natural oils your skin badly needs.
The Missha Time Revolution Clear Toner will lighten sunspots and acne scars because of its alpha and beta hydroxy acids. Together, these remove dead skin cells to brighten your glow.
Pros
- Affordable
- Evenly tones skin with naturally fermented ingredients
- Scent-free
- Hydrating
- Great for sensitive skin types
Cons
- Can be too drying for some
Etude House Wonder Pore Freshner
Best for Large Pores
We have a love-hate relationship with our pores. On one hand, we rely on their natural oils. On the other hand, we try to hide them as much as possible.
If you’re main concern is your pores, Etude House’s Wonder Pore Freshner is the best Korean toner for you.
Goodbye, Oils
Rather than your usual essential oil ingredient, this toner uses peppermint extract to give a cooling effect when applied. Essential oils can be irritating to some and can even cause dermatitis or burns. The peppermint extract is a milder and more soothing alternative.
While this toner is perfect for normal, oily, or combination skin, it is not the best choice for a dry skin type because it does have a relatively strong drying effect. It’s also not advisable for those who have rosacea because users found it aggravates the problem.
Poreless on a Budget
Pricewise, this toner is the cheapest in the list.
There’s just one problem though. If you decide to order this toner online, the bottle does not come sealed. There have been a lot of complaints because the toner would arrive spilled and almost empty. Buying from your local store would be a better option.
Pros
- Affordable
- Concentrates on tightening pores
- Controls excess oils without being drying
- Cooling effect
- Fragrance-free
- No animal ingredients
Cons
- Not ideal for dry skin
- Container does not come sealed
- Not compatible with those who have rosacea
Benton Snail Bee High Content Skin
Best for Hydration
Koreans are known for their penchant of weird yet unique beauty ingredients. This toner uses not only snail slime but also bee venom. Sounds sweet, right?
A Slick Solution
Many Korean beauty products contain snail slime in their cosmetics because of its ability to stimulate collagen formation and minimize free radical damages.
In fact, products using snail mucin (the more science-y term) have many patents since it is an active ingredient for treating dermatitis, burns, and wounds.
Buzzing Beauties
The Benton Snail Bee toner also uses bee venom and is an ingredient known to contain hyaluronidase, designed to treat dehydration.
You might not be too familiar with hyaluronidase, but you might have heard of it before as HA. This is used widely for its anti-inflammatory and hydrating properties.
Despite venom being in its name, bee venom is non-toxic.
Not for Sensitive Skin
Some users report this toner does not sit well with them and can causes rashes sometimes or a burning sensation. This may not be the best toner when it comes to oily or sensitive skin.
Pros
- Decreases appearance of acne scars
- Alcohol-free
- Fragrance-free
- Stimulates collagen production
- Very hydrating
Cons
- Not for sensitive skin
COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner
Best for Acne-Prone Skin
The Daily Dot listed COSRX as the number 1 Korean skincare brand. Patrons appreciate the fact this line uses chemical exfoliation as opposed to a physical one, which makes it ideal for people with oily or sensitive skin.
The Exfoliants
AHA and BHA stand for alpha- and beta-hydroxy acid, respectively. Both are chemical exfoliants with different properties.
BHA removes dead skin cells and improves skin texture.
AHA is water-loving, meaning it dissolves in water. BHA, on the other hand, is oil-loving.
While AHA works best for skin rejuvenation, it does not penetrate the skin as deeply as BHA. However, it can effectively remove the top layers of dead skin cells.
Because of its anti-bacterial properties, BHA is a useful ingredient for oily and acne-prone skin types.
Preliminary Breakouts
A common problem users have with using this toner is it causes breakouts a few days after they apply it.
BHAs can cause initial purging for a week or two as it helps remove comedones and excess oils. This initial purging gets better over time.
But if you give this toner a chance, your skin will improve as it gets used to the ingredients. So if you notice the same problem, give the toner a week or two.
A Note on the Spray Bottle
It might be better to purchase this toner from a physical store because one of the most common problems with it is its defective cap.
Pros
- Exfoliates gently
- Good for dry or combination skin
- Unscented
- Moisturizing
- Contained in spray bottle for easier dispensing control
Cons
- The cap is known to be defective
- May cause breakouts as the skin adjusts to the toner